The name dispute was on the agenda of discussion between Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kodzias and his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. According to the newspaper “Kathimerini”, Kodzias mentioned the name dispute and the problem with Macedonia at yesterday’s meeting in Berlin. Allegedly, Kodzias urged the German side to react and affect the Macedonian side for the Macedonian Government to accept a compromise.
According to “Kathimerini”, Kodzias planned much of the meetings with foreign counterparts to use to work out a different approach from the EU and US towards issues affecting the Greek politics, such as the Greek-Turkish problems and the situation on the Balkans, i.e. greater understanding and acceptance of Greek positions. The analysis of the newspaper suggests that Greek diplomats consider that the meeting in Berlin and today’s meeting in Moscow may be useful to arrange a greater understanding of Greek demands.
“Germany is already involved in the discussions and negotiations taking place on the Balkans by intervening, leading and pushing Serbia and Kosovo. Also important is the involvement of Berlin in the name dispute, especially through the Summit of the Western Balkans countries, because it has set the resolution of the name dispute as a parameter for stability in the region and slowly intensifies involvement in resolving this issue,” reports “Kathimerini”, analyzing the logic and the moves of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the baton of Kodzias.
The newspaper added that the Greek Government believes it cannot be absent from discussions about the events on the Balkans, because soon initiatives for dialogue with Balkan leaders can be expected. However, regarding the name dispute, the Greek Government has no plans to deviate from long-term red lines for compound name with geographic determinant for general use.
As a reminder, Greece last year, during the mandate of the government of New Democracy and PASOK, showed annoyance of German intensified attempts and meetings regarding the name dispute, such as the summit of Western Balkan countries and the meeting of Chancellor Angela Merkel with the mediator in the name dispute Matthew Nimetz. Greek media then announced intensified German pressure on Greece to influence Greek concession to quickly resolve the name dispute.
However, the name dispute didn’t cause so much interest in the meeting Kodzias-Steinmeier as Greek demands for Germany to pay war reparations for damages incurred during the Second World War. The topic of conversation was initiated, and appeared as a quarrel between the two ministers during the statements to the media. Steinmeier strongly rejected Greek demands, noting that all legal matters relating to that period are closed and solved.
From Berlin, Kodzias today left for Moscow, where at noon he will meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.
